Traction-engine.



S. MURTA.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1912.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

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TRACTION- ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 6, rate,

Application filed August 8,1912. Serial No. 713,997.

To all whom it may mam,-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MURTA, a citizen of the United States ofAInerica,'and a resident of the'city of St. Louis,in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a traction engine and has for its object the production of a very simple and efficient engine of this kind, more particularly intended for use on farms as a draft device for wagons and farm implements iif general.

Figure I is a side elevation, partly in section, of a traction engine embodying the features of my invention, a portion of one of the drive sprocket wheels being' broken away to more clearly show the pedestal. Fig. II is a top or plan view. Fig. III is a vertical section taken approximatelyon the line III III, Fig. I.

In the accompanying drawings: A and B designate the steering and drive wheels of my traction engine. The steering wheel A at the rear of the engine is provided with an axle 1 mdunted in suitable journal boxes 2. y i

3 designates a steering wheel fork, the legs of which are located at opposite sides of the steering wheel andlcontain pockets 4 in which the journal boxcsi are adapted to play during vertical movement of the steering wheel fork. T he stccring wheel fork is steering post i) yieldingly supported by cushion springs 5 located in the pockets 4. The lens of the steering wheel fork are connected by a top piece (5 containing a raceway in which antifriction balls 7 are located, said balls being positioned beneath the rear end of the main frame (3 of the engine. lhc main frame is provided with a perforated bearing 8 immc diatcly above the fol-k3 and a steering post 9, secured to the ft'lrk 3, passes through said hearing. A worm wheel 10 secured to the lQHlHS with a worm ll on a shaft 12, said shaft being journaled in bearings 13.

14- is a hand whee] attached to the shaft 12 and'adaptcd to be rotated to turn the steering wheel. it. about the axis of the post 9.

The main frame C is formed of a single casting extending throughout the length of the engine, and comprises a motor platform 15 between the wheels A and B, an arch l6 extending over the driving wheel B and a rear foot platform 17. The main frame also comprises as integral parts thereof pedcstals 18, located at opposite sides of the driving wheel sections B and depending from the arch 16. These pedestals contain guideways for journal boxes 19 which receive axle sections 20, and which are surmounted by cushion springs 21, yieldingly supporting the front portion of the main frame. Each axle section 20 extends through a drive wheel section B, and is secured thereto by a key 22, (Fig. III). The inner ends of the axle sections are connected by a sleeve 23 arranged between the drive Wheel sections B, and provided with threaded ends for the reception of threaded plugs 24, the axle sections being provided with enlarged ends 25 which are confined within the sleeve by said plugs 24. It will be noted that this sectional wheel and axle construction per-- mits the wheels to be driven independently of each other.

26 designates drive wheels secured to the outer ends of the axle sections 20 and operable by chains 27 passing around small \sprocket wheels 28. Any suitable type of motor may be utilized to drive the sprocket wheels 28, and any suitable clutch mechanism may be used to connect the motor to said s n'ocket wheels. However, to illustrate a means for driving the sprocket wheels independently or collectively, I have shown a motor 29 having a power shaft 30 upon which the sprocket wheels 28 are loosely mounted. Clutch members 31, splined to the shaft 30, are provided with clutch teeth a la ')ted to interlock with clutch tooth on the sides of the sprocket wheels 28. As the clutch members 31 are splined to tshaft 130, they will always rotate with $1", shaft and the sprocket wheels 28 being loose on the shaft will not rotate therewith. on they are interlocked with the clutch men, bcrs 31. The clutch llltl'lll'IQlS 31 may shifted into and out of engagement with the :-])l'()(,'l(0t wheels 28 through the n'icdium of ordinary shifter lovers :2 pivoted at 33, and provided with the usual yokcs 34. whichare fitted to the clutch members 31.

'o The object in dividing the front wheel. into two iiulcpmidently movable sections is to permit the traction cngineto be turned around at the ends of corn rows, or other places where it must be turned in a small tab space, and this is accomplished by driving only one oi the driving Wheel sections and turning the steering Wheel A in the proper direction. In the ordinary use of the en- .gine, both drive Wheel sections B are 0perated in unison, and unless it is necessary to make a short turn, the engine may be steered by the steering rear Wheel A.

I claim 1. In a traction engine, a pair of traction wheels contiguous to each other, a connecting member spanning the space between said traction Wheels, an axle in each of said traction Wheels rotatable independently of the axle in the other Wheel, the said axles being held by said connecting device to limit their longitudinal movement relative to each other.

2. A traction engine having two traction gear connected to the 3. A traction engine having two traction wheel sections, a sleeve between said traction Wheel sections, axle sec-ions passing through and rigidly secured to said traction Wheel sections, said axle sections being provided with heads loosely fitted to said sleeve, plugs for retaining said heads Within said sleeve, and drive Wheels connected to the outer ends of said axle sections.

SAMUEL MIUETA.

In the presence of A. J. MCCAULEY, E. B. LINN. 

